One gift from the kitchen that you can begin making now is Herb Vinegar. Here's a listing of 47 recipes for herb vinegar.

You might want to include some recipes that use herb vinegar.  ¶ 2:28 AM

  Even if you don't usually become a member at Websites you might want to consider doing so at Kraftfoods.com. By joining and filling out a brief profile, you can receive Kraft Food & Family Magazine free. It's a quarterly magazine and I have been impressed with the quality of all that I have seen so far. Much of the same information that is in the magazine can be found on their site...but I like having the hard copy. (Disclaimer: My only relation to Kraft is as a consumer.)

Here is a sample recipe from the latest issue. If you've read many of my postings here, you won't be surprised that I picked a chocolate dessert.:

Midnight Bliss Cake

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 1 hr 10 min
Makes: 16
1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix, any variety
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1/2 cup GENERAL FOODS INTERNATIONAL COFFEES, any flavor
4 eggs
1 container (8 oz.) BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, chopped

LIGHTLY grease 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan.
BEAT all ingredients except chopped chocolate in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping side of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes or until well blended. Stir in chopped chocolate. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
BAKE at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on wire rack. Loosen cake from side of pan with spatula or knife. Invert cake onto rack; gently remove pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Serve drizzled with additional semi-sweet chocolate, melted, and raspberries, if desired.
  ¶ 9:10 AM

  Thursday is the release date of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau. From what I've read so far, this year's production promises to be a very good wine. If there isn't a tasting party in your area or you prefer to host your own, here are some sites with suggestions:
Beaujolais and Cheese Party
Entertaining: Beaujolais and Cheese Party
French Cuisine: Beaujolais Party

Good news for those of us who prefer red wine over white, it is also a good wine to serve at your holiday meals with turkey or ham.  ¶ 10:22 AM

  Go Erie.com has recipes for corn lovers:

Escalloped Corn

1 can cream-style corn
1 tablespoon sugar
4 tablespoons sifted flour
4 tablespoons melted butter
11/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs, well-beaten
1 pint milk

Combine corn, sugar, flour, butter, salt and pepper and fold in well-beaten eggs. Add milk and mix. Bake in 375-degree oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

There are also recipes for corn bread, corn pudding, corn casserole, and Emeril's hot corn dip.  ¶ 9:54 AM

  The Seattle Times has Recipes for a Picture Perfect Thanksgiving. The article also has tips for transporting food.

"Picture Perfect" is nice but don't over-stress yourself. As long as the food tastes good and you are with friends and/or family your holiday meal will be a success. Don't be afraid to delegate work.

Actually, I would be happy to cook it all as long as someone else cleans up afterward!  ¶ 9:49 AM

  Princess Cruise Lines has some of its most popular recipes available online. I haven't been on a Princess ship but the food that was served on the cruise I did go on was very memorable.

Of course, I was younger then...now that I'm older with a husband and three kids, being served at every meal would be more memorable that what I actually eat.  ¶ 9:42 AM